It's Called Culture

By listener request, we bring you a Mystic Pizza rewatch and review. We break down all of the Portuguese elements of this movie -- names, behaviors, lullabies, and even the Last Supper decor.

We discuss what it means to uno-reverse your ancestors and how to decipher their recipes.

May the Forza be with you in this episode of hilariously bad English to Portuguese translations and the stories that go along with them.

In this episode, we delve into the dark history of foundling wheels and discuss shocking cases in the US and Portugal of deception involving faked pregnancies and elaborate scams.

Discussing a chapter of Sue Fagalde Lick's book "Stories Grandma Never Told: Portuguese Women in California" leads us on some hilarious tangents about food, church, and survival.

We discuss Portugalia, a beloved Portuguese goods marketplace in Fall River, Massachusetts. From its humble beginnings to its bustling Christmas atmosphere and our favorite finds. Then we reflect on our family's holiday traditions from gift exchange strategies to culinary adventures -- including the "cooking math" that is common to Azorean Americans.

We discuss the film "The Feast of the Seven Fishes" that we recently discovered on Netflix. This Italian immigrant movie hits all the right marks for a Christmas Eve celebration: 1980s, cake-eaters, evil eye, bacalhau, midnight mass, uncle with the bad jokes.

First we share a saying from my vavó that I discovered was from a popular song (O Arroz Está Cru) and then we host our first "translation bee" of the new year.

We share 2024 life goals loosely inspired by Açores circa 1960.

We explore the idea of Christmases Present and the excessive holiday-time commitments that have come to be. Elf on the Shelf! Advent Calendars! Yankee Swap! Secret Santa! Spirit Week! Stocking Stuffers! While we appreciate the joy, we emphasize the need for simplicity and balance during this time. We will be taking a break from the podcast during Christmas week. Boas Festas! See you in the New Yea...

We explore the idea of Christmases Past starting with our parents' sparse and simple Christmas traditions and our own childhood holiday memories.

We describe a visit to the Pastéis de Belém pastry shop, its history, and participation in a Lisbon cooking class where we made replicas of the famous pastries. And in typical Portuguese-fashion, you'll find a nata recipe throughout this episode (with no measurements). Good luck!

From the challenge of finding the right word for "candy" to trying to describe something as "under-salted", we uncover the nuances of the Portuguese language.

Our 100th episode! We discuss all things ginjinha (the unofficial sour cherry liqueur of Lisbon).

In this episode, we discuss our love for movies involving time loops and body-switching. We recommend the Brazilian Portuguese film "Just Another Christmas" on Netflix, with similarities to "Groundhog Day." Then we share amusing anecdotes and nostalgic experiences while clearing out Mel's grandmother's apartment over the Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Even the simplest things can be a challenge when navigating another country in your second language.

Part 2 of the Portugal journey = Mel in Cars Getting Coffee...

Follow along with this first step on Mel's travel journey. We discuss important things like whether or not TAP Air Portugal has an avó in the back washing dishes, Oscar-worthy safety demonstrations, and how to emergency land in the ocean.

We discuss the remarkable life of Bobi, a Portuguese dog who lived to be 31 years old. We explore the challenges that older generations face with banking technology, share stories of frugal immigrant habits, and host a "Translation Bee" segment.

We share the results of our Vitality Tests with each other and discuss how to improve our life expectancies.

Happy Halloween! We analyze the aftermath of our hometown's infamous double ax murder. Part 2 of 2 reveals how a Portuguese immigrant's actions may have influenced the trial and covers the remaining life and death of Lizbeth A. Borden, including Kelly's visitas to the properties.

This episode analyzes the dizzying details of our hometown's infamous double ax murder. Part 1 of 2. Tune in tomorrow to learn how a Portuguese immigrant's actions may have influenced the trial and to hear about the remaining life and death of Lizbeth A. Borden, including Kelly's visitas to the properties.

First, we delve into the origins of the board, the historical context of spiritualism, and skeptic investigations. Next we recount tales such as a courtroom trial involving a Ouija board and unusual bequests made to spirits through the board. Lastly, we examine the evolving portrayal of Ouija boards in popular culture such as The Exorcist and I Love Lucy .

We cover haunted house history, cultural significance, and Kelly's desire to snag a deal on a dwelling with see-through roommates.

This week's spooky episode covers the story of Pedro Rodrigues Filho, known as "Pedrinho Matador" or "Lil Petey Killer"... Merch:   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠folkandfad.com/thebazaar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit your Stories:   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠folkandfad.com/shareastory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a Guest on our Show:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠folkandfad.com/guests⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Along With Us on Social Media: ...